BCJ-12-24-2015

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“PRSRT.STD.” US POSTAGE PAID NO. 486 PRINCETON, IL 61356 SHAW MEDIA

Thursday, December 24, 2015

Vol. 10 No.23

IVS photo/Mike Vaughn

Celebrating the reason for the season Churches around Bureau County will be hosting a variety of services on Christmas Eve and/or Christmas Day. It will be a reverent yet glorious time to gather with friends, family and other parishioners to celebrate Christmas. We at the Illinois Valley Scene wish you and yours the most delightful celebration, as we remember the proverbial “reason for the season.” We urge you to take many photographs to help you remember Christmas 2015. We hope the day will offer you plenty of memories that will carve a place in your hearts for years to come. Merry Christmas!

Back to baking Christmas cookies with her grandchildren.

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2 2 • Thursday, December 24, 2015

Illinois Valley Scene

The highest notes Piano teacher of five decades brings music to where it’s needed most

By Eric Engel eengel@bcrnews.com

PRINCETON — When you love music, you exist in harmony with that which surrounds you. When you play music, you create happiness through reverberating waves of tranquility. When you bring music to the people, you break the chains off the ears of the deaf.

When you become music, you bridge the generational divide, and we stand with silent smiles amidst the melody of man.

Before moving to Princeton in June 2014, Pat James conducted an ivory choir in Oklahoma City for 47 years.

She would inspire children in her large piano studio to listen to their soulful desires to sing out loud the symphonic sounds of kindness toward humanity.

They would gather in nursing homes and assisted living centers and invite the elder bones back to their youth.

When it was determined her relocation to the Illinois Valley robbed her not of her affection for instruction or instrument, she put the notes on paper, so to speak, as she has always loved to do. Needing an outlet for her piano students and other musicians in the area, James got on the horn and called out to colleagues and friends to create an ensemble unique to any other.

A Christmas program featuring music students from the area arrived at Greenfield Retirement Center Monday, Dec. 7. Instrumentalists brought their voices, guitars, flutes, trumpets and trombones — even a choreographed dance to “Frosty the Snowman.” James said the children involved in the sponta-

“This was not a recital, but a community service project, and it’s a story of connections between generations.”

Pat James neous concert either study music privately or are involved in choir and band programs in area public schools.

“This was not a recital, but a community service project, and it’s a story of connection between generations,” James said, who quoted Greenfield residents as asking where the performers were from and if they were a traveling act on tour. “Afterward people said we should do it again, and parents said count me in!”

James collaborated with Kathy Allen, a well-known piano teacher in the area, and Kim Codo, a guitar guru at Illinois Valley Community College, to accomplish the project. James claimed she didn’t know if she would find enough interested music students for the event, but after reaching out to people in the church and community, she was reminded of the gift that never stops giving.

“I can’t imagine my life without music,” she said, adding although they couldn’t carry a note very far, her parents always supported the joyful noise of James and her siblings. “My sisters and I were all born looking for some kind of instrument to play.”

Photo contributed

Young area musicians slid on into Greenfield Retirement Center in Princeton Monday, Dec. 7, bringing with them the sound of holiday joy. Led by lifelong piano instructor Pat James, numerous musicians and their trusty steeds performed a hearty Christmas musical for Greenfield residents.

Items from the Hegeler Carus Mansion to be exhibited at the Metropolitan Museum of Art Ten drawings from the Hegeler Carus Mansion House Museum collection will be displayed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City as part of an exhibit on gilded age furniture from Dec. 15, 2015 through May 1, 2016.

The drawings are part of the original architectural and design plans for the Hegeler Carus Mansion and date from between 1874 when construction began on the Mansion to 1876, when the Hegeler family moved into the home.

The house museum’s collection includes architectural plans by William W. Boyington, interior and furniture design drawings by William August Fiedler, and textile and furniture design drawings by George Schastey, as well as furniture and artifacts that belonged to three generations of the Hegeler and Carus families that lived in the Mansion from 1876 until 2004.

“It is truly rare and wonderful that these plans and drawings have survived for over 140 years.” said Kelly Klobucher, Executive Director of the Hegeler Carus Foundation, which operates the Mansion as a house museum.

“We are fortunate that the family stored the drawings in the attic. Todd Voelker was director of special projects at Carus Corporation when our organization was in its infancy.

It was he who found the Boyington, Fiedler and Schastey drawings in 1994. This was very early in the preservation process. The drawings have been scanned and now we are able to refer to them when working on preservation projects.”

“That was a great discovery for those of us working to preserve the Mansion. The drawings are an invaluable research material which enabled us to rebuild and restore to what Mr. Hegeler requested when the Mansion was designed. We have referenced the drawings many times over the years,” said John Thorpe, a restoration architect who has been involved in the Mansion’s preservation since the Foundation formed over twenty years ago.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art contacted the Hegeler Carus Foundation about the George Schastey drawings last winter after learning of their existence from Hegeler Carus board member Rolf Achilles. Achilles is a professor, preservationist, and is a world renowned expert on the decorative arts.

“The exceptional characteristic of the Hegeler Carus Museum is that it is unchanged. The Schastey drawings are extremely rare, as is the Mansion. Both the drawings and the Mansion are invaluable examples of artistic achievement and should be treasured,” said Achilles.

George Schastey operated a successful decorating firm in the late 19th century and catered to the Vanderbilts, Rockafellers and other well known families on the east coast.

The 10 Schastey drawings in the Hegeler Carus Mansion’s museum collection consist of textile designs for window treatments, fireplace surrounds, and small furniture pieces designed for the Hegeler Carus Mansion.

“We were concerned about moving the original drawings. Not only are they are exceedingly fragile, they are among the most precious pieces of our history at the Mansion,” said Klobucher.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art sent couriers in June to retrieve the drawings. They were packed in special boxes and carried to New York in a climate controlled truck along with important pieces of art and artifacts from all over the country.

After the Metropolitan Museum of Art received and inspected the drawings, it was decided to have their conservationists clean, stabilize and preserve the artifacts prior to displaying them.

“The drawings are in better condition now after being in the care of some of the top conservationists in the world at the Met. We are very grateful to them. This is not something we would have been able to do on our own,” said Klobucher.

More information on the principle architect and designer of the Hegeler Carus Mansion: In addition to the Hegeler Carus Mansion, architect W. W. Boyington designed Terrace Hill, the Iowa Governor’s Mansion; Joliet State Penitentiary; Chicago’s Water Tower, the only building to survive the fire of 1871; and also finished the Illinois State Capitol building when architect Alfred Piquenard passed away during the construction. A prolific architect, according to Boyington’s obituary in the Oct. 17, 1898 Chicago Tribune, “If all of the buildings he had constructed were placed side by side they would reach a distance of thirty miles.”

August Feidler was the principle interior designer of the

Photo contributed

Hegeler Carus Mansion. He created the unique parquet flooring designs for each room of the Mansion as well as the ornately carved woodwork that can be seen on the decorative mantles, built in furniture and trim on the window and doors throughout the first floor of the Mansion.

Both Boyington and Fiedler were operating businesses in Chicago in the 1870s due to the increase in work available to architects who were rebuilding Chicago after the Great Fire of 1871.

Below is a link to a Press Release from the Metropolitan Museum of Art on the entire exhibit: http://www. metmuseum.org/about-the-museum/press-room/exhibitions/2015/gilded-age-furniture

3 Thursday, December 24, 2015 • 3

Illinois Valley Scene

The First United Methodist Church in Princeton will have two worship services on Thursday, Dec. 24. At 4 p.m., there will be a family friendly service of Los Posadas. The public is invited to join as the children help Mary and Joseph search for a place to stay. At 11 p.m., there will be the traditional worship of Nine Lessons and Carols. Each service will include a traditional candlelighting portion of the worship as they celebrate Christ’s birth.

The Wyanet United Methodist Church will have a Christmas Eve service at 9 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 24.

The First Lutheran Church, 116 N. Pleasant St., Princeton, will have candlelight communion services at 7 and 11 p.m. on Christmas Eve. The choir will sing at both services.

Everyone is welcome and invited to attend.

A live webcast of the Christmas Eve Mass from Holy Trinity Church in Cherry will take place in Ladd’s Community Center at 4 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 24. The public is invited to attend. For more information, call Diane at 815-894-2440.

Everyone is welcome to join Christ Community Church in Princeton on Christmas Eve, Thursday, Dec. 24, as they celebrate the miracle of Christmas. There will be two services, 4 and 6 p.m., with songs, worship, a devotional and a candlelight service.

Holy Trinity Church in Cherry has announced its Christmas Mass schedule: • Christmas Eve Mass, 4 p.m., Holy Trinity Church in Cherry; they will also be broadcasting live church overflow (with communion) at Cherry Church Hall; broadcasting live virtual Mass (with communion) to the Ladd Community Center.

• Christmas Eve Mass, 10 a.m., St. Patrick’s Church in Arlington.

• Christmas Day Mass, 9 a.m., at St. Thomas More in Dalzell.

• New Year’s Eve, 4 p.m., Holy Trinity Church in Cherry.

• New Year’s Day, 9 a.m., St. Thomas More in Dalzell.

The Seatonville Congregational Church, Independent will host a candlelight Christmas Eve service at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 24, in the sanctuary. There will be singing of Christmas carols, “O Holy Night” sung by the choir and special music by members of the congregation.

The Rev. Bill Jacobsen will bring a special Christmas Eve message and all folks from the Bureau and Illinois Valley region are invited to come and celebrate the birth of our Savior. For more information, call the church at 815-894-2697.

The Princeton Presbyterian Church, 320 Park Ave. East, will hold its annual candlelight Christmas Eve service at 5 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 24. All are welcome to celebrate this special night.

St. Matthews Lutheran Church in Princeton invites all to attend two different Christmas Eve services, at 7 and 10 p.m., on Thursday, Dec. 24.

The 7 p.m. service is a traditional candlelight worship using Christmas carols throughout the service. The St. Matthews Choir and Bell Choir and pipe organ will help lead worship. Based on Luke 2:1-20, the sermon is “God Created Us To Be Lovable.” A children’s sermon is also part of this service. Holy Communion is by intinction (dipping the wafer into the cup).

The 10 p.m. service is titled “Celebrate that Silent Night, Part 2” and begins informally by sharing cookies and hot chocolate. After the opening prayers, this service continues by casually entering the sanctuary to sing the opening song. This service includes more favorite carols on piano not included at 7 p.m. The sermon will draw from John 1:1-14.

Last year, the 10 p.m. sermon shared how Silent Night was composed in a moment of chaos. This year for Part 2 of Celebrate that Silent Night, the sermon will tell how the favorite Christmas carol, Silent Night, led to a ceasefire in World War I. Plus, the sermon will end with a surprise. Holy Communion is at

the communion rail (with individual cups).

Both services conclude with singing Silent Night by candlelight. As most of the two services are different, a person would be welcome to attend both if so inclined.

As an additional opportunity for worship, the Sunday, Dec. 27, 9 a.m. service is Lessons & Carols offering more Christmas carols not included on Christmas Eve. Various Bible readings precede each Christmas carol.

St. Matthews is located at 416 E. Dover Road in Princeton. For more information, visit www.StMatthewsPrinceton.org, email StMatthewsPrinceton@gmail.com or call 815879-6491.

The Elm City Bells will perform at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 29, at the Princeton Public Library. They will play Christmas songs as well as other favorites. The library is located at 698 E. Peru St. in Princeton. All programs at the library are free and open to all.

The Princeton Moose Lodge will have a New Year’s Eve dance from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 31, at the lodge, 1339 N. Euclid Ave., Princeton. Music will be provided by The Generics. Snacks, party favors and a champagne toast is included in the cost of $15 per person. RSVP by calling 815-879-5261 or 815-875-2547.

A minimum number of RSVPs are needed to have the dance.

The First United Church of Christ in Sheffield will host its monthly community coffee from 8 to 11 a.m.

Saturday, Jan. 2, 2016, in the UCC Parish Hall. Fresh-baked cinnamon rolls will be served.

The Princeton Moose Lodge will host a bingo night at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2016. Doors will open at 5 p.m. and sandwiches will be available for purchase. The lodge will continue to host bingo the first and third Tuesday of each month. The lodge is at 1339 N. Euclid Ave. in Princeton. For more information, call the lodge at 815-879-5261.

Auction Calendar Dec. 31 – Farm machinery consignment auction, combine, tractors, tillage and planting equipment, antiques, collectibles, wagons, grain cart, augers, vehicles, 9:30 a.m., 401 W. Main St. (The Shed), Wyanet, Rediger Auction

Service, auctioneers.

Jan. 1-3 – Three-Day New Year’s holiday estate auction, auto, furniture, glassware, pottery, clocks, sterling, jewelry, decoys, firearms, toys, 10 a.m., 1635 N. Main St. (Tumbleson Auction Center),

Princeton, Tumbleson Auction Company, auctioneers.

Jan. 8 – Diane Oster, farm land, 10 a.m., auction held at 401 W. Main St. (The Shed), Wyanet, Rediger Auction Service, auctioneers.

BCR photo/Dave Cook

Please bring me ...

Santa heard the Christmas wishes of the children of Manlius during his visit to the Manlius Village Hall on Saturday, Dec. 12. Shoppers are slowly running out of time to complete their holiday lists.

Elm City Bells will perform at library PRINCETON — The Elm City Bells will perform at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 29, at the Princeton Public Library. They will play Christmas songs as well as other favorites. 2015 marks the 41-year anniversary of this bell ensemble from the First United Methodist Church.

The Princeton Public Library is located at 698 E. Peru St. in Princeton. All programs at the library are free and open to all. For more information on upcoming programs and on Princeton Public Library services, go to www.theprincetonlibrary. org or call 815-875-1331.

Reddick Mansion lowers tour prices for the holidays OTTAWA — Until Jan. 2, 2016, guided tours of the 19th century Reddick Mansion will be offered at a reduced rate, $5 for adults and free for students.

Normal pricing is $8 for adults and $4 for students.

“We are hoping that Ottawa and LaSalle County residents will take advantage of our ‘holiday pricing’ and visit our beautiful mansion, in all its holiday splendor,” said Reddick Mansion Association vice president and docent chair Lorraine McCallister.

The mansion is open for tours from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. six days a week (closed Tuesdays and major holidays). The Reddick Mansion, at 100 W. Lafayette St. in Ottawa, was completed by 1858, the time of the first Lincoln-Douglas Debate, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Sites. The building is also available for rent for special events.

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4 4 • Thursday, December 24, 2015

Illinois Valley Scene

Olof Krans painting donated to Bishop Hill Historic Site PRINCETON — At 6:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 28, the library will show the movie, “White Christmas.”

At 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 29, the library will have Youth Services story time and craft. Youngsters will make Q-tip snowflakes.

At 6:30 p.m. Dec. 29, Elm City Bells will perform.

At 3 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 30, the library will be a donation site for Mississippi Regional Blood Center.

At 3:30 p.m., there will be an Informal Wellness Support Group meeting.

WYANET — The library’s 2nd Thursday@the Library program will be on hiatus until February. Leslie Goddard will be back then to portray a famous female.

Stop in the library and vote for who you would like to see her portray.

LAMOILLE — The library will be closed from Thursday, Dec. 24, to Saturday, Dec. 26, for Christmas and Thursday, Dec. 31, and Friday, Jan. 1, for New Year’s.

WALNUT — Wednesday, Dec. 30, 9:30 a.m., the library will host a story hour.

Call the library to make a reservation to ensure librarians are able to provide plenty of craft supplies. Call the library at 815-379-2159.

BUREAU — The Leepertown Township Public Library is open from 2 to 6 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday; 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday; and from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. The library has computers for patron usage, as well as copier, scanning and fax services. Call 815-6593283 for information. (The fax number is the same as the phone number).

‘Rosemary: The Hidden Kennedy Daughter’

By Terri Schlichenmeyer The King has spoken.

And in pretty much every fairy tale, that’s all it takes for a Happy (or not-so-Happy) Ending: He decrees, and it is so. And in the new book “Rosemary: The Hidden Kennedy Daughter” by Kate Clifford Larson, you’ll see how that affected the oldest girl in what many say was America’s Royal Family.

When Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy went into labor on the 13th of September, 1918, she figured her third baby’s birth would be as uneventful as that of her first two children. Alas, the doctor was delayed in caring for Boston’s Spanish Flu victims, so the nurse, unauthorized to deliver the child, held the baby in place in the birth canal for two excruciating hours.

By the time little Rosemary Kennedy was a year old, it was obvious that something was amiss. Compared to her older brothers, “Rosie” was delayed in all milestones, which her mother blamed on “gender and temperament.” Still, hoping her daughter would catch up, Rose vowed to spend more time with Rosemary.

No matter how much parental attention she had, however, Rosemary would never be a rough-and-tumble Kennedy. As younger siblings were born and quickly overtook her both physically and mentally, it became apparent that she was going to need more than the family could offer.

Doctors diagnosed her as “mentally retarded;” she might also have suffered from epilepsy. Inwardly, she struggled; outwardly, she was charming and fun-loving. Many thought she was just “shy.”

Desperate for a cure that would never come, Joseph and Rose Kennedy sent Rosemary to a succession of schools until, in 1938, a good

fit was found in Great Britain but World War II intervened. Nineteen-year-old Rosemary was pulled from that school for her safety, and her stateside return sent her into a tailspin.

By 1941, Joseph Kennedy was searching for new methods of treatment for his daughter, and had considered lobotomy (a radical brain surgery). Family members recommended against it, but he’d been “assured” it would work and so, sometime in early November 1941, without telling his wife or children, he authorized the surgery …

Stunned.

Absolutely stunned. That was me, as I read this sit-still book. Yes, I was aware that Rosemary lived until relatively recently, tucked away in small-town Wisconsin, but the rest?

I had no idea….

That story, however, isn’t all that lies inside “Rose-

mary: The Hidden Kennedy Daughter”: author Kate Clifford Larson also lays out plenty of history, both of the family as a whole, and of the world. She reaches back to the earliest Kennedy years and, as she pulls us forward, she puts into context each phase of Rosemary’s life, plunging us into the way things were early in the last century. Then, believe it or not, in Larson’s hands, this tragic tale culminates in an oddly happy ending.

I couldn’t get enough of this astounding book and, especially if you like a splash of historical biography in your scandal, you’ll love it, too. “Rosemary: The Hidden Kennedy Daughter” is a book I can’t speak enough about.

Terri Schlichenmeyer is a book reviewer from West Salem, Wis. She may be contacted at bookwormsez@ yahoo.com.

BISHOP HILL – The earliest known portrait by painter Olof Krans has been donated to the Bishop Hill State Historic Site, whose museum houses the world’s largest collection of the folk artist’s work.

The 1879 painting was donated by Barbara Glick. She and her husband, the late folk art expert Merle Glick, purchased it in 1993.

The subject of the portrait is Jonas Olson, an important figure in the history of the Bishop Hill religious colony. Olson disliked the painting so much that he refused to keep it in his home. However, he did give it to relatives who preserved it for more than a century.

“Merle Glick was exceptionally generous with his time, expertise and personal collection.

Barbara Glick continues that generosity with the donation of this portrait,” said Martha Jane Downey, superintendent at Bishop Hill State Historic Site. “We’re excited to add it to our collection, both for its importance in Krans’ development as an artist and for the significance of Olson in the colony’s history.”

Krans was born in Sweden but moved to Bishop Hill as a boy and lived there until 1867.

By trade he was a house and decorative painter, but later in his life he began painting his memories of his Bishop Hill Colony childhood, including the people.

He produced scenes of rolling countryside, hard-working farmers and grazing cattle – all portrayed with simple lines and bright splashes of color. His portraits captured “visages etched not only with toil and sorrow, but also faith and determina-

Photo contributed

tion,” said one author The Olson portrait has been seen in exhibitions, most recently in the “Olof Krans: Painter of Bishop Hill” exhibition at the Peoria Riverfront Museum. It also appears in the recently published book “The Art of Olof Krans: A Prairie Vision.” Merle Glick donated funds and oversaw the creation of this book.

The portrait now hangs in the Bishop Hill Museum, joining 103 other Krans paintings.

In addition there is an exhibit of archival material related to this portrait and Jonas Olson.

Bishop Hill was founded by Swedish religious dissidents in 1846 as a “Utopia on the Prairie.”

Many of the original Colony buildings remain today, and many residents are descendants of the original settlers.

Olson was an early supporter of the colony’s founder, Eric Janson.

In 1849, Olson led a select group to California to seek gold for the colony’s benefit. Janson was murdered while he was gone, so Olson returned and was made a colony trustee. He came to be seen as the group’s spiritual leader.

Following the dissolution of the colony, Olson continued to live in Bishop Hill and participated in the 1896 golden anniversary celebration of the town’s founding.

Bishop Hill is located about 45 minutes southeast of the Quad Cities and an hour northwest of Peoria.

Operated by the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, the site is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Thursday through Sunday.

Send your event releases to news@bcrnews.com.

Our Office Will Be Closing at Noon on Christmas Eve and will reopen on Monday, December 28th at 8:00 am We Wish Everyone a Safe and Merry Christmas!

800 Ace Road • P.O. Box 340 • Princeton, IL 61356 815-875-4461 • Fax: 815-875-1235 OUR PROMISE: Relevant Information • Marketing Solutions • Community Advocates

5 Thursday, December 24, 2015 • 5

Illinois Valley Scene coats every nut. Spread into a single layer, return to the oven, and bake until nuts are sticky and roasted, about 6 minutes.

Allow to cool before serving.

Shrimp Cream Cheese Spread With New Year’s Eve just around the corner, I thought you might enjoy some quick and easy appetizers to make for your New Year’s Eve party or to take along with you to a friend or family member’s party. None of these recipes take very long, so you’ll have more time to enjoy the party and less time in the kitchen.

King Crab Appetizers 2 12-ounce packages refrigerated biscuit dough 1 8-ounce package cream cheese, softened 1 6-ounce can crab meat, drained 2 tablespoons mayonnaise 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese 2 tablespoons thinly sliced green onion 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce 1 pinch paprika Preheat oven to 375°. Lightly grease 12 tartlet pans.

Divide rolls in half and press into the prepared tartlet pans. Set aside.

In a large bowl, combine cream cheese, crab, mayonnaise, Parmesan cheese, cheddar cheese, green onions and Worcestershire sauce. Spoon 1 teaspoon of mixture into tarts and garnish with paprika.

Bake at 375° for 15 to 20 minutes, or until light brown. You can freeze these and reheat before serving too.

Bacon-Wrapped Dates with Blue Cheese 1 pound sliced bacon, cut in half 1 pound pitted dates 4 ounces blue cheese Preheat the oven to 375°. Slice dates in half, and open them up. Pinch off pieces of blue cheese, and place them into the center of the dates. Close the halves of the dates, and wrap a half-slice of bacon around the outside. Secure each one with a toothpick. Arrange in a baking dish or on a baking sheet with sides to catch any grease.

Bake for 30 to 40 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the bacon is crisp.

Turn dates over after the first 20 minutes for even cooking.

Bacon Cheese Crisps 1 pound sliced bacon 2 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese 2 tablespoons prepared mustard 1 cup mayonnaise 1 pound sliced pumpernickel party bread Place bacon in a large, deep skillet.

Cook over medium-high heat until evenly brown. Drain, crumble and set aside.

Preheat oven to broil.

In a medium bowl combine the bacon, cheese, mustard and mayonnaise. Stir well.

Arrange party bread on a cookie sheet.

Spoon mixture onto each slice of bread.

Broil for 5 minutes, or until bubbly.

Bacon Cheese Dip 4 slices bacon 1 8-ounce package cream cheese, softened 1 cup mayonnaise 8 ounces Swiss cheese, shredded 2 green onions, finely chopped 4 Ritz crackers, crushed Place bacon in a large skillet. Cook over medium-high heat until evenly brown.

Drain, crumble and set aside.

In a small bowl, mix the cream cheese with mayonnaise until smooth. Stir in Swiss cheese, onions, and bacon. Place bowl in microwave, and cook 2 minutes.

Remove and stir well. Return to microwave, and cook 2 to 4 minutes more.

Sprinkle crushed crackers on top. Serve warm with crackers.

2 8-ounce packages cream cheese, softened 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice 12 whole fresh mushrooms 1 teaspoon hot sauce 1 tablespoon vegetable oil 1 4-ounce can small shrimp, drained 1 tablespoon minced garlic 2 green onions, finely chopped 1 8-ounce package cream cheese, 1/2 of 12-ounce jar cocktail sauce softened In a medium bowl, beat together the 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese cream cheese, lemon juice and hot sauce 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper until well blended and fluffy. Mix in the 1/4 teaspoon onion powder shrimp and green onions. Form into a 1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper mound on a medium serving platter. (optional) Preheat oven to 350°. Spray a baking Cover and chill in the refrigerator 1 hour, sheet with cooking spray. Clean mush- or until firm. Top with cocktail sauce rooms with a damp paper towel. Break before serving. Serve with crackers. off stems. Chop stems extremely fine, discarding tough end of stems.

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium 1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef heat. Add garlic and chopped mushroom 1 1/4 cups dry bread crumbs stems to the skillet. Fry until any moisture 1 egg has disappeared, being careful not to 3 tablespoons grated onion burn garlic. Set aside to cool.

1 1-ounce package dry Ranch-style When garlic and mushroom mixture dressing mix is no longer hot, stir in cream cheese, 1 cup ketchup Parmesan cheese, black pepper, onion 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar powder and cayenne pepper. Mixture 3/4 cup cola-flavored carbonated should be very thick. Using a little spoon, beverage fill each mushroom cap with a generous 1/2 cup chopped onion amount of stuffing. Arrange the mush1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper room caps on prepared cookie sheet.

1 teaspoon seasoning salt Bake for 20 minutes in the preheated 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper oven, or until the mushrooms are piping 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce hot and liquid starts to form under caps.

Preheat the oven to 375°. In a large bowl, mix together the ground beef, bread crumbs, egg, grated onion and Ranch dressing mix until well blended. Shape 1 8-ounce package cream cheese, into 1-inch meatballs, and place on a softened 10-by-15-inch jellyroll pan, or any baking 2 cups crushed pineapple, drained with sheet with sides to catch the grease. juice reserved Bake for 30 minutes in the preheated 1 teaspoon onion powder oven, turning them over half way through.

2 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed In a medium bowl, mix together cream cheese, crushed pineapple, onion powder and garlic. Mix in reserved juice from pineapple as desired. Chill in the refrigerator until serving. Serve with crackers.

Easy Stuffed Mushrooms

Barbecue Cola Meatballs

Pineapple Cheese Dip

Nuts Gone Wild Cooking spray 1 cup untoasted walnut halves 1 cup untoasted pecan halves 1 cup unsalted, dry roasted almonds 1 cup unsalted, dry roasted cashews 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper 1/2 cup sugar 1/4 cup water 1 tablespoon butter/margarine Preheat oven to 350°. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and lightly coat with cooking spray or I use parchment paper.

Combine walnut halves, pecan halves, almonds and cashews in a large bowl.

Add salt, black pepper, cumin, and cayenne pepper; toss to coat.

Heat sugar, water and butter in a small saucepan over medium heat until the butter is melted. Cook for 1 minute and remove from heat. Slowly pour butter mixture over the bowl of nuts and stir to coat.

Transfer nuts to the prepared baking sheet and spread into a single layer.

Bake nuts in the preheated oven for 10 minutes. Stir nuts until the warm syrup

While the meatballs are roasting, mix together the ketchup, cider vinegar, cola, chopped onion and green pepper in a slow cooker. Season with seasoning salt, pepper and Worcestershire sauce.

Remove meatballs from the baking sheet, and place into the sauce in the slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for 3 hours, then remove the lid and cook for an additional 15 minutes before serving.

Note: You can also buy prepared frozen meatballs and just make the sauce and pop them in the crockpot, although they aren’t quite as good.

Chocolate Chip Cheeseball 1 8-ounce package cream cheese, softened 1/2 cup butter, softened 3/4 cup powdered sugar 2 tablespoons brown sugar 1/4 teaspoon vanilla 3/4 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips 3/4 cup finely chopped pecans In a medium bowl, beat together cream cheese and butter until smooth. Mix in powdered sugar, brown sugar and vanilla. Stir in chocolate chips. Cover, and chill in the refrigerator for 2 hours.

Shape chilled cream cheese mixture into a ball. Wrap with plastic, and chill in the refrigerator for 1 hour. Roll the cheese ball in finely chopped pecans before serving. Serve with graham crackers or vanilla wafers.

I hope you’ll try one or two of these fun recipes. Have a happy and safe New Year.

I can be reached in care of this newspaper at P.O. Box 340, Princeton, IL 61356.

AGENT OF THE WEEK NORM BRANSON Thinking of Buying or Selling Real Estate?

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Chili Cheese Dip 1 8-ounce package cream cheese, softened 1 15-ounce can chili 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese In the bottom of a 9-inch microwave-safe round baking dish, spread the cream cheese. Top cream cheese with an even layer of chili. Sprinkle Cheddar cheese over the chili.

Heat in the microwave on high heat 5 minutes, or until the cheese has melted.

Serve with crackers or tortilla chips.

Judy Dyke

815-866-2977 1221 North Main Street, Princeton, IL

815-875-1221 www.illinoisvalleyhomeshow.com

Price Reduced! $99,500 Price Reduced! $199,900 Princeton! Many decorative Fabulous home w/ features, 2 decks, paved hardwood floors, open paths, 3 BR, woodburning staircase, new FP w/ corian FP, main laundry, corner hearth, large glassed porch, lot, siding & thermal park like backyard, deck & windows. #09015662 porch. #08940126

New Listing! $84,900 Price Reduced! $189,900!

New Listing! $79,900 New Listing! $145,500 Putnam! Wonderful 3 BR 3.72 acre property w/ 5 BR Princeton! 3 BR, large corner Princeton Quality 3 BR home built 2001, 2 storage renovated farmhouse. 2 lot, roof on house/garage w/ recent updates, new sheds, fire pit area, front new furnaces. Newer roof 2007. Front porch, natural paint, finished basement, sliding door off DR to brick & back decks, open floor & siding. Remodeled baths woodwork, kitchen w/ butler’s plan, 12’x25’ LR w/ FP. & laundry .Fenced pasture pantry. Includes appliances. patio. Fenced backyard. FP. & outbldgs. #09082311 #09099320 Kitchen island. #09098805 Crawl space. #09102149

Price Reduced! $70,000 Walnut - Back On Market! $5,000 to Buyer At Closing w/ Full Price Offer!

Geodesic Dome Home - 4.8 $103,000 Beautiful 2 Br $154,900 3 BR ranch just 3 acres! Drilled well & 2 dug & 2bath home w/ finished minutes from Princeton in wells, workshop, garage, fruit basement. Newer FR addn Norwood Meadows. On .7 trees. 1 BR plus room for w/ FP & screened porch.

2 addn. BR. Heated floors. Oversized garage w/ workshop acre lot. 20’x13’ deck. Full basement. #08953213 #08891551 & shed. #08960580

Price Reduced! $119,000 Princeton! Quality built on .64 acre, 12’x22’ FR, open floor plan on main level, roof 2006, attached 2 car garage, 3 BR & lower Rec Room. #09091677

Condo Unit - One Level! $24,900 - Tiskilwa! $94,000 - Princeton! $65,000 - Wyanet $108,000 - Princeton. 2 Br Handyman wanted for this Natural woodwork, hardwood Commercial Building!

All new windows, roof floors, covered porch, 4 & 1 bath, laundry room & diamond in the rough. Needs 2011, interior remodeled, full attached garage. Open floor complete make over. 2 BR & BR (1 down & 3 up), main basement, new electric. Addn. plan. No mowing - No know 2 bath home sits on four lots laundry, woodburning FP, building to east also for sale deck, concrete drive & shoveling! Ready to move - corner location! Attached addn price. #08490629 attached garage. #08937051 into! #08948023 garage. #08951263

6 Sports 6 • Thursday, December 24, 2015

Illinois Valley Scene

Senior Spotlight Lindsey Conrad • Hall High School Name: Lindsey Conrad.

School: Hall High School.

Date/place of birth: May 10, 1998.

Hometown: Spring Valley.

Family: Russ (Dad); Connie (Mom); Gabby (sister), Elliott (cat).

Sports: Cross country, cheer.

Favorite sport and why: Cross country, because I am really close with my team. They are a bunch of goof ball and I think I did more laughing than running.

Favorite food and where to get it: Mangos or chocolate.

Likes: Spending time with friends and family, laughing and making others laugh, cats, hiking and camping, art, music.

Dislikes: Negative attitudes, calculus and Fall Out Boy. Person with the greatest influence on my athletic career (and why): Tanja Acamovic and Amelia Moreno. They convinced me to do cross country and made it a positive experience.

Person with the greatest influence in my life (and why): My mom, because no matter how strange my goals are, she always supports them.

Who would be your dream celebrity prom date: Matt Corby.

Name three historic figures you’d like to meet (and why): Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and John Lennon, so I could jam out with them.

If stranded on a deserted island, I would have my: Friends The last song I listened to: “The Prayer” by Cuddi.

People would be surprised to know: I want to go into the Peace Corps after college.

I stay home to watch: Grey’s Anatomy.

When I need luck for a big game,

I: wear my lucky socks.

The funniest person I’ve ever met (and why): Amelia Moreno, Caitlyn Jablonski and my dad. They don’t even try; it just happens.

What they’ll say about me at school after I graduate: She was the girl with the ridiculous laugh.

Most embarrassing moment: Falling out of the pyramid in the homecoming cheer set.

Most unforgettable moment: When we were in Paris and my friends and I went down to the river and danced to C’est La Vie with all the French people.

Ultimate sports fantasy: Going to state for cross country.

What I would like to do in life: Volunteer work and have a career in environmental health.

Three words that best describe myself: Optimistic, goofy and spontaneous.

IVS photo/Kevin Hieronymus

A look at the upcoming area sports slate: Friday, Dec. 25 Merry Christmas!

Saturday, Dec. 26 Boys basketball: BV vs. Orion, 8:30 a.m., BV vs. Mercer County, 2:30 p.m. at Erie Warkins Classic, St. Bede vs. Forreston/ Genoa winner, 12:30 p.m., L-P vs.

Plano/Mendota winner, 7 p.m., Princeton at Plano Christmas Classic, tba; Hall vs. GardnerSouth Wilmington, 9 a.m., PC vs.

Midland, 10:30 a.m.,Marquette vs. LaMoille/Ohio, 8 p.m., at Marseilles Holiday Tournament.

Girls basketball: BV vs. Erie, 8:30 p.m., at Erie Warkins Classic.

Wrestling: Princeton at Pontiac Invite, Hall/PC at Riverdale Invite, 9 a.m.

Monday, Dec. 28 Boys basketball: BV vs.

Stockton, 5:30 p.m., at Erie Warkins Classic, ; L-P, Mendota, St. Bede, Princeton at Plano Christmas Classic, tba; DePue vs. Elmwood at Princeville Holiday

Tournament, 3:30 p.m.; Hall, PC, LaMoille/Ohio, at Marseilles Holiday Tournament, tba.

Girls basketball: BV vs.

Knoxville, 11:30 a.m., BV vs.

Rockridge, 2:30 p.m., at Erie Warkins Classic; Hall vs.

Stillman Valley, 10:30 a.m. at Dixon Holiday Tournament.

Tuesday, Dec. 29 Boys basketball: BV vs. LenaWinslow, 3 p.m. at Erie Warkins Classic; L-P, Mendota, St. Bede, Princeton at Plano Christmas Classic, tba; DePue at Princeville Holiday Tournament, tba.; Hall, PC, LaMoille/Ohio, at Marseilles Holiday Tournament, tba.

Girls basketball: BV vs. Mercer County, noon, at Erie Warkins Classic; Hall at Dixon Holiday Tournament, tba.

Wrestling: Rockridge, Erie at Hall/PC, 5:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Dec. 30 Boys basketball: BV at Erie Warkins Classic finals, tba; DePue at Princeville Holiday Tournament, 3:30 p.m.; Hall, PC, LaMoille/Ohio, at Marseilles Holiday Tournament, tba.

Girls basketball: BV at Erie Warkins Classic finals, tba; Hall at Dixon Holiday Tournament, tba.

Friday, Jan. 1 New Year’s Eve

NEED EXTRA CASH??

Ask About Our $25 Sign-On Bonus.

Routes are available delivering the Bureau County Republican in Cherry, Ladd, Manlius, Princeton, Sheffield & Spring Valley.

Monday, Jan. 4 Girls basketball: Amboy at BV, Princeton at Erie, L/O at Newark, DePue at Leland/Earlville, 7:30 p.m.

Delivery days are Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings by 7:00 am.

No Collecting Involved.

Tuesday, Jan. 5 Boys basketball: BV at Rockridge, Morrison at Hall, St. Bede at Princeton, 7:30 p.m.

Girls basketball: BV at Henry, 7:30 p.m.

For more information, please call Tom Long, District Manager (815) 875-4461 Ext. 6350

Thursday, Jan. 7 Boys basketball: BV at Sherrard, Erie at Hall, St. Bede at Amboy, Princeton at Orion, Serena at L/O, Peoria Christian at DePue, 7:30 p.m.

800 Ace Road • Princeton, IL 61356 • 815-875-4461

7 Sports Thursday, December 24, 2015 • 7

Illinois Valley Scene

Hall hitting clinic SPRING VALLEY — The Hall Red Devils will hold a hitting clinic for both baseball and softball players with former pro player and internationally known hitting instructor, Mark Doran.

The baseball portion of the clinic will be Sunday, Jan. 17, 2016, and the softball portion will be Sunday, Jan. 24. For more information, check the Hall High School athletic website and click on the clinic tab.

Fat 50

McNABB — The 21st annual Fat (rear) 50 will start at 9 a.m.

Saturday, Jan 9, 2016, at Putnam County Junior High School in McNabb and finish there. It is a 50K run and runners are welcome to run as much or as little as you want.

There are no fees. For more information, contact Bob Rehn at 815-882-2120 or email to rehnfarms@nabbnet.com.

Indoor golf

PRINCETON — Indoor golf is underway at the Bureau County Metro Center, using the OptiShot golf simulator, which allows golfers to practice their swings while playing some of the world’s best courses. You

may call for a tee time or to join a league.

For more information, call Nick Davis at 815-872-0840.

Indoor soccer

PRINCETON — The indoor adult soccer league runs through Jan. 19 at the Bureau County Metro Center. The league with games beginning at 5:30 p.m.

Coaches Clinic

Manlius — The 2016 Bureau County Track and Cross Country Coaches Clinic will be Feb. 6, 2016, at Bureau Valley High School in Manlius. Clinic cost is $75 if mailed by Jan. 28 and $95 at the door or mailed later. The clinic starts at 9 a.m. and ends at 3 p.m.

Any updated information will be posted at www.bureauvalleytrack.net. For more information, contact Dale Donner at 309-8952037 or by email at daledonner@ yahoo.com.

This year’s speakers include: Jim Aikens (Fremd High School): During his 31 years as a coach, his throwers have won 4 state championships and 14 other state medals. Aikens has a Level 1 and Level 2 certification with the USATF. Aikens also has many videos and books that are sold through Championship Books and Videos.

Chad Laktos (Edwardsville High School): Laktos has led the Tigers to three Top 2 finishes over the past four years.

Edwardsville has averaged an amazing 39.5 points in each of the last four years at state.

Will Kupisch (Downers Grove North High School): Kupisch was inducted into the ITCCCA Hall of Fame last year after a standout career at Downers Grove North, which led to multiple team state appearances and a third-place trophy in 2000.

Alec Holler (Edwardsville High School); A two-time state medalist himself, Holler has now moved into the coaching ranks.

He has coached five hurdlers to state medals in the past two years at Edwardsville.

Todd Ehlert (Geneseo Middle School): Ehlert is a physical education and health education teacher at Geneseo Middle School. He is the head cross-country coach, head boys’ track and field coach and athletic director in charge of cross country and track and field at the middle school. He also works for Hammond Henry Hospital and provides strength and conditioning programs for a sports performance program called “The Summit.” His boys’ cross country team won the 2012 class

2A state championship.

Ken Jakalski (Lisle High School): Jakalski’s career as a head track and cross country coach spans 41 years. He has spoken at various track clinics across the country, and several of his articles on speed and endurance training have appeared in various coaching magazines.

He is president of Faster Than Gravity and partner in Support Force Strength and Performance Enhancement. Writing in the NSCA Journal, John Cissik noted that Jakalski presents a “glimpse as to where the field (of speed training) might go one day.”

Karonji Carr (Normal U-High): Coach Carr is the assistant boys’ track coach from Normal U-High, and he is also a USA Track and Field Level 1 Certified Coach. He has coached multiple male and female state qualifiers and medalists in both the long jump and triple jump.

Randy Moore (Rockford Christian High School): Since taking over the Rockford Christian team in 2000, Moore has helped lead RC to 10 team state appearances, which included a third-place finish in 2014.

Denise Urycki (Metamora High School): Denise Urycki is the assistant track coach at Metamora. She focuses primarily on the jumps. She has had

multiple state medalists in the high jump. In high school, she was invited to the U.S. Olympic Training Camp at 15 years old and also won an Illinois State Championship in the high jump.

Her daughter finished third at the U.S. Junior Olympic Trials last year.

I-70 Baseball Coaches Clinic

GREENVILLE — Legendary Atlanta Braves pitching coach Leo Mazzone, Jack Leggett (Clemson), Pat McMahon (N.Y. Yankees) and Rick Eckstein (University of Kentucky) will be the speakers for the 13th annual I-70 Baseball Coaches Clinic Jan. 17-18, 2016, at Greenville High School.

The clinic runs Sunday night from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Monday’s clinic format runs from 9 a.m. until 3:45 p.m.

Registration for the clinic will begin an hour earlier than starting time. Clinic preregistration fees are $50 per coach, add another $10 for registering at the door. Staff rates(4-6 coaches from same coaching staff) are $175 pre-registered and $220 at the door. For information, visit www.i70clinic.com or contact Joe Alstat at 618-664-5580 or jalstat@bccu2.org.

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8 8 • Thursday, December 24, 2015

Illinois Valley Scene

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